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British Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, on the right, attends an inauguration ceremony of the Kari Gari forests at Queen's Commonwealth Canopy on Fraser Island, Queensland, the Monday, October 22, 2018. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took separate boats Monday at Fraser Island Queensland while their tour in Australia and the South Pacific continued with a reduced schedule for the pregnant Duchess. (Phil Noble / Pool Photo via AP) (Associated Press)
SYDNEY – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took separate boats Monday for Queensland's Fraser Island, while their tour of Australia and the South Pacific continued with a reduced schedule for the pregnant Duchess.
Prince Harry embarked for the 43km (70km) crossing from the Australian mainland to the island, while former American actress Meghan was aboard a much more comfortable cruiser.
Meghan is about four months pregnant and her schedule has been reduced after a hectic 16-day tour.
The Duchess rested during the first part of the day while Harry undertook several missions focused on environmental problems. Meghan then delighted the audience by emerging for a waterfront stroll with her husband.
Harry and Meghan landed in the middle of the morning at Hervey Bay, 1,200 km north of Sydney, on a Royal Australian Air Force plane. The couple came down the stairs hand in hand, before parting: Harry got on a bus and Meghan a car.
After their boat trip, Harry was to participate in a series of engagements on the largest sand island in the world, called K'gari – or "paradise" – in the local Native language, the seventh day of their tour in Australia.
After taking part in a traditional "Welcome to the Country" smoking ceremony with representatives of the local Butchulla Aboriginal people, Harry unveiled a plaque dedicating the pristine tropical forests of the popular vacation island to Queen Elizabeth's Commonwealth Canopy Project.
Harry's itinerary also touched on the history of logging on Fraser Island, whose famous hardwood trees were used to build London's wharves in the 1930s.
After their afternoon stroll, the royal couple met with locals, including paramedics from Hervey Bay, Graeme Cooper and Danielle Kellam.
The paramedics made the headlines last year after receiving a photo of a dying woman who wanted to see the ocean at Hervey Bay one last viral time and capture the hearts of the world.
Harry and Meghan have to leave Australia on Tuesday to travel to Fiji and Tonga. They will return to Sydney on Friday night for the final days of the Invictus Games, Harry's original idea and the center of their tour, before ending with a visit to New Zealand.
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